A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter XXI
THE WORK OF A SCOUNDREL. I was more than miserable all that night; I was wretched. I had betrayed myself, and now to show even the slightest interest in her was to imply an insult. But what could I hope for at best? My chain might be gold, but it was a chain after all, and must be broken.
Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.
later than; following
From this reading “My chain might be gold, but it was a chain after all, and must be broken.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “My chain might be gold, but it was a chain after all, and must be broken.”
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading “But what could I hope for at best?”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “I had betrayed myself, and now to show even the slightest interest in her was to imply an insult.”
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading “My chain might be gold, but it was a chain after all, and must be broken.”
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading “My chain might be gold, but it was a chain after all, and must be broken.”
used when the speaker is also the object of the action
From this reading “I had betrayed myself, and now to show even the slightest interest in her was to imply an insult.”
a dishonest or unscrupulous person
From this reading “THE WORK OF A SCOUNDREL.”
Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE WORK OF A SCOUNDREL.
later than; following
From this reading My chain might be gold, but it was a chain after all, and must be broken.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was more than miserable all that night; I was wretched.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading I had betrayed myself, and now to show even the slightest interest in her was to imply an insult.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading I had betrayed myself, and now to show even the slightest interest in her was to imply an insult.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading But what could I hope for at best?
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading My chain might be gold, but it was a chain after all, and must be broken.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But what could I hope for at best?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had betrayed myself, and now to show even the slightest interest in her was to imply an insult.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading My chain might be gold, but it was a chain after all, and must be broken.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But what could I hope for at best?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My chain might be gold, but it was a chain after all, and must be broken.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading But what could I hope for at best?
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I had betrayed myself, and now to show even the slightest interest in her was to imply an insult.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading But what could I hope for at best?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My chain might be gold, but it was a chain after all, and must be broken.
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading I had betrayed myself, and now to show even the slightest interest in her was to imply an insult.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading I had betrayed myself, and now to show even the slightest interest in her was to imply an insult.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But what could I hope for at best?
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I was more than miserable all that night; I was wretched.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had betrayed myself, and now to show even the slightest interest in her was to imply an insult.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading I had betrayed myself, and now to show even the slightest interest in her was to imply an insult.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had betrayed myself, and now to show even the slightest interest in her was to imply an insult.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had betrayed myself, and now to show even the slightest interest in her was to imply an insult.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading My chain might be gold, but it was a chain after all, and must be broken.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading My chain might be gold, but it was a chain after all, and must be broken.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was more than miserable all that night; I was wretched.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was more than miserable all that night; I was wretched.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading My chain might be gold, but it was a chain after all, and must be broken.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading My chain might be gold, but it was a chain after all, and must be broken.
used when the speaker is also the object of the action
From this reading I had betrayed myself, and now to show even the slightest interest in her was to imply an insult.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was more than miserable all that night; I was wretched.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had betrayed myself, and now to show even the slightest interest in her was to imply an insult.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE WORK OF A SCOUNDREL.
a dishonest or unscrupulous person
From this reading THE WORK OF A SCOUNDREL.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had betrayed myself, and now to show even the slightest interest in her was to imply an insult.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had betrayed myself, and now to show even the slightest interest in her was to imply an insult.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading I was more than miserable all that night; I was wretched.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading I was more than miserable all that night; I was wretched.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE WORK OF A SCOUNDREL.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading I had betrayed myself, and now to show even the slightest interest in her was to imply an insult.
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading I was more than miserable all that night; I was wretched.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading But what could I hope for at best?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE WORK OF A SCOUNDREL.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was more than miserable all that night; I was wretched.
